Last Saturday (19/8), ASEAN launched the New Tariff Finder ASEAN platform. The platform is anticipated to assist entrepreneurs develop business plans and cross-border trade strategies. In addition, the platform may help entrepreneurs, especially small and medium-sized enterprises within the region, obtain the most recent trade information and access existing free trade agreements in ASEAN member countries. This will reduce the risks that traders face as a result of limited information on trade and customs matters.
The launch of the portal took place through the fifty fifth ASEAN Ministers of Economics Meeting and other related meetings in Semarang, Central Java. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, ASEAN Secretary-General HE Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Arsjad Rasjid and Australian Ambassador to ASEAN Mariam Diakita, in addition to Economic Ministers from ASEAN member states.
Republic of Indonesia Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the brand new ASEAN Tariff Finder platform has a user-friendly interface in keeping with its motto “Trade information at your fingertips”.
Additionally, the New ASEAN Tariff Finder also supports efforts to understand the vision of a powerful, resilient and inclusive ASEAN that can have a positive impact on the people of the region and the world. With this platform, businesses in Southeast Asia will find a way to more easily find the most recent and most accurate tariff information through an integrated portal.
He also emphasized that the launch of this portal is a component of the determination of ASEAN member states to implement the vision of constructing a powerful, flexible and inclusive region that can profit each its inhabitants and the whole world.
The platform, a collaboration between ASEAN and Australia under Phase II of the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program (AADCP), offers more comprehensive features than the previous version. Provides up-to-date information on trade agreements and full details on tariff obligations, rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, import and export procedures and border issues.
With the worth of trade between countries inside ASEAN reaching USD 857 billion by 2022, the launch of the ASEAN Tariff Finder is anticipated to encourage greater trade efficiency amongst ASEAN member countries, in addition to strengthen the resilience of regional supply chains.
